Altercation Rule? - Suspension or not (with pics)

[eisfeld]

Here are some pics of Stoudemire and Diaw leaving the bench after the Flagrant 2 foul committed by Robert Horry. Elson and Oberto seem to have stepped over the white line too (The Knicks - Heat series of 1997 ring a bell).

For those who don't know whats wrong with leaving the bench, here's an excerpt of the rule.

During an altercation, all players not participating in the game must remain in the immediate vicinity of their bench. Violators will be suspended, without pay, for a minimum of one game and fined up to $35,000.

Due to the no tolerance policy this should warrant a suspension for Stoudemire, Diaw, Oberto and Elson for one game. Patrick Ewing got suspended 1997 for just being two steps over the line, here they are over the line even more. Some may claim that Amare was heading towards the scorers table to check in but that's arguable because he went up right after the foul and headed towards the altercation.

What do you guys think about this. No tolerance policy and ruin a great series or denying that this was an altercation and everyone is fine. Nevertheless, Horry is gone for at least one game for the Flagrant and maybe a second for his behavior after the foul.

[Matt]

suspend them all!

[eisfeld]

As much as I want a Spurs - Pistons final this year again I have to say that I hope they won't suspend Stoudemire. It would take the entire fun out of the series. Along with the smack talk and the everyone blaming the refs for bad calls this is the most entertaining Spurs series since their last championship. I'd say suspend Diaw and Horry and let the rest give their best.

[SVSM/CC-23]

if the rule exists that way they have to be suspended. but maybe they should have a thought about cancelling this rule for the future.

but on the other hand it makes sense. if those players had intervention into this riot they should have stayed on the bench.

[Andrew]

According to the rules and previous standards a suspension would seem appropriate, though it would be a shame to see what should be one of the more entertaining series in these Playoffs marred or the outcome decided by suspensions.

[Matt]

indeed....however players know the rules and need to be held accountable. If Stoudemire gets suspended he can only blame himself. This wasnt going to escalate into anything anyway. This game is about being mentally strong as well as physically, and Stoudemire didn't show any strength here.

[maes]

It would totally suck, i don't think either team wants that or the NBA or the fans.

But they have to, the NBA has never been lenient on this rule before...and this is why players need to stay home.

They need to alter this rule for the playoffs, 1 game in the regular season is not the same as 1 game in a playoff series.

[el badman]

As mentioned during the game, the Suns' line of defense will certainly be that A-Stat was already standing, getting ready to substitute, and the league should therefore be lenient on this one.
As much as I want the Spurs to win, I can't believe Big Shot Bob would stoop so low, even outta frustration. Sad stuff...

[Sauru]

its my opinion that since they let bowen get away with trying to hurt players twice, they should let the suns players play.

[Patr1ck]

If they are going to suspend them, do it next season, but fine them now. Let the playoffs run it's course. This is an exciting physical series, nobody wants to see a silly technicality potentially decide the momentum of the series. These are grown men, you can't just nazi them with schoolyard no tolerance policies.

[cheater1034]

If they are going to suspend them, do it next season, but fine them now. Let the playoffs run it's course. This is an exciting physical series, nobody wants to see a silly technicality potentially decide the momentum of the series. These are grown men, you can't just nazi them with schoolyard no tolerance policies.

I agree, but any decision they make people will hate them for (suspension or no suspension)

Unfortunately though, I think they have to suspend them because if they don't suspend them, and someone else does it in the future and gets suspended it won't be fair.

[Jeffx]

suspend them all!

As a Knicks fan, I agree with Matt 200%. I'm still burned up over that sh!t from ten years ago. So I want Stern to do SA & PHX the same way he did my team back in '97. Make it fair.

[ixcuincle]

Is this on youtube? I'd like to see the video...keep typing "Stoudemire Diaw" in search engine and getting fan videos

edit : found this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqhuZfFT0t4 ...Suspend Horry for that hit (this isn't hockey , you can't check someone like that) , and suspend both Amare and Diaw for coming off the bench.

[Anthony15]

Horry should be suspended no doubt. Amare not really sure, he was past the bench, but he wasn't past the coaches line/inbound line. Diaw pulled back quickly so he shouldn't be suspended.

Horry: Yes
Stoudamire: ???
Diaw: No

[Cable]

I hadn't seen that yet. Horry should be suspended for sure, the others probably not. They didn't really do anything except run over to a teammate who's down (although not really hurt). There wasn't really a fight, just some shoving, nothing huge.

[Sauru]

i am seeing posts saying if amare and diaw get suspended cause "a rule is a rule" then duncan and bowen should be also cause they both did the same thing in the second quarter. of course, as i also have seen pointed out everywhere, there was no fight, so the rule should not even be considered here.

[Dro]

Steve Kerr wrote today on his Yahoo! columnn...

However, if the league decides to suspend Diaw and Stoudemire, it may have to suspend Tim Duncan and Bruce Bowen as well.

In a play that went entirely unnoticed until well after the game was over, both Duncan and Bowen actually left San Antonio's bench early in the second quarter after Francisco Elson and James Jones were entangled. Replays clearly show Duncan walking several steps onto the court as Elson and Jones appeared to be ready to get into it. Bowen then followed Duncan onto the floor, grabbed him and led him back to the bench. If the league does indeed follow the letter of the law, both Spurs players would also be suspended for Game 5.

Think long and hard about that...

[Dro]

And it's official...Amare and Diaw suspended for Game 5, Horry for Game 5 and 6.

[Axel]

I wish Euroleague games were broadcasted in America.

[Anthony15]

And it's official...Amare and Diaw suspended for Game 5, Horry for Game 5 and 6.

Wow...this changes everything for Suns, not so much for Spurs though.

[Riot]

It looks like Marion and Nash are going to have to step it up big time. The loss of Stoudemire is going to kill them, though.

Thanks David Stern!

[Axel]

This even trumps the idiotic suspension of Joey Crawford.

and the suspensions on Kobe Bryant.

[Drex]

Does anybody have a video of Duncan and Bowen stepping over the line during that 2nd quarter altercation? If they're suspending Amare and Diaw for just that then they should suspend TD and "cheap shot" Bowen, too.

[Buckley]

Wow.......i hope this series goes to a game 7, so they all are back.

Big loss for both teams IMO.

[cheater1034]

I agree with the decision (you can't let players bend the rules just because it's a big series), it is probably the best series we'll have all year (depending on how the detroit-cavs series will turn out, assuming NJ and chicago wont come back), but they can't suspend somebody for the offense, then not suspend somebody for the same offence.

btw, the kobe suspensions weren't idiotic, just because he's a superstar doesn't mean he can swing his arm across people's faces.